Small Incision Cataract Surgery with Trabeculectomy versus Phacotrabeculectomy in Eyes with Pseudoexfoliation - A Retrospective Study

ABSTRACT

Pseudoexfoliation (PXF) syndrome is very common in Kashmir Valley. Eyes with pseudoexfoliation have a higher incidence of both cataract and glaucoma. Eyes with pseudoexfoliation respond poorly to medical treatment hence the need for early surgical intervention. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of small incision cataract surgery (SICS) with trabeculectomy versus phacotrabeculectomy in patients with psuedoexfoliative glaucoma with coexistent cataract. Methods: Present retrospective study was done in the post graduate department of ophthalmology Sher-i-Kashmir institute of medical sciences (SKIMS) and hospital Bemina. A total of 50 eyes with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma were divided in to two groups, 25 underwent small incision cataract surgery with trabeculectomy and 25 had phacotrabeculectomy done by the same surgeon. Intra and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups, moreover best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and intra ocular pressures (IOP) were compared at 8 weeks and 6 months. Results: In our study we found that there was a significant improvement in best corrected visual acuity as well as getting the desired IOP levels in both groups of patients. However the difference between the two groups in terms of intra and post-operative complications, BCVA and IOP was found to be statistically insignificant. Conclusion: Our study concludes that both SICS with trabeculectomy and phacotrabeculectomy are equally effective in management of patients with PXF associated with cataract and glaucoma.